'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' by Anne Sexton
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If you danced from midnight
to six A.M. who would understand?The runaway boy
who chucks it all
to live on the Boston Common
on speed and saltines,
pissing in the duck pond,
rapping with the street priest,
trading talk like blows,
another missing person,
would understand.The paralytic's wife
who takes her love to town,
sitting on the bar stool,
downing stingers and peanuts,
singing "That ole Ace down in the hole,"
would understand.The passengers
from Boston to Paris
watching the movie with dawn
coming up like statues of honey,
having partaken of champagne and steak
while the world turned like a toy globe,
those murderers of the nightgown
would understand.The amnesiac
who tunes into a new neighborhood,
having misplaced the past,
having thrown out someone else's
credit cards and monogrammed watch,
would understand.The drunken poet
(a genius by daylight)
who places long-distance calls
at three A.M. and then lets you sit
holding the phone while he vomits
(he calls it "The Night of the Long Knives")
getting his kicks out of the death call,
would understand.The insomniac
listening to his heart
thumping like a June bug,
listening on his transistor
to Long John Nebel arguing from New York,
lying on his bed like a stone table,
would understand.The night nurse
with her eyes slit like Venetian blinds,
she of the tubes and the plasma,
listening to the heart monitor,
the death cricket bleeping,
she who calls you "we"
and keeps vigil like a ballistic missile,
would understand.Once
this king had twelve daughters,
each more beautiful than the other.
They slept together, bed by bed
in a kind of girls' dormitory.
At night the king locked and bolted the door
. How could they possibly escape?
Yet each morning their shoes
were danced to pieces.
Each was as worn as an old jockstrap.
The king sent out a proclamation
that anyone who could discover
where the princesses did their dancing
could take his pick of the litter.
However there was a catch.
If he failed, he would pay with his life.
Well, so it goes.Many princes tried,
each sitting outside the dormitory,
the door ajar so he could observe
what enchantment came over the shoes.
But each time the twelve dancing princesses
gave the snoopy man a Mickey Finn
and so he was beheaded.
Poof! Like a basketball.It so happened that a poor soldier
heard about these strange goings on
and decided to give it a try.
On his way to the castle
he met an old old woman.
Age, for a change, was of some use.
She wasn't stuffed in a nursing home.
She told him not to drink a drop of wine
and gave him a cloak that would make
him invisible when the right time came.
And thus he sat outside the dorm.
The oldest princess brought him some wine
but he fastened a sponge beneath his chin,
looking the opposite of Andy Gump.The sponge soaked up the wine,
and thus he stayed awake.
He feigned sleep however
and the princesses sprang out of their beds
and fussed around like a Miss America Contest.
Then the eldest went to her bed
and knocked upon it and it sank into the earth.
They descended down the opening
one after the other. They crafty soldier
put on his invisisble cloak and followed.
Yikes, said the youngest daughter,
something just stepped on my dress.
But the oldest thought it just a nail.Next stood an avenue of trees,
each leaf make of sterling silver.
The soldier took a leaf for proof.
The youngest heard the branch break
and said, Oof! Who goes there?
But the oldest said, Those are
the royal trumpets playing triumphantly.
The next trees were made of diamonds.
He took one that flickered like Tinkerbell
and the youngest said: Wait up! He is here!
But the oldest said: Trumpets, my dear.Next they came to a lake where lay
twelve boats with twelve enchanted princes
waiting to row them to the underground castle.
The soldier sat in the youngest's boat
and the boat was as heavy as if an icebox
had been added but the prince did not suspect.Next came the ball where the shoes did duty.
The princesses danced like taxi girls at Roseland
as if those tickets would run right out.
They were painted in kisses with their secret hair
and though the soldier drank from their cups
they drank down their youth with nary a thought.Cruets of champagne and cups full of rubies.
They danced until morning and the sun came up
naked and angry and so they returned
by the same strange route. The soldier
went forward through the dormitory and into
his waiting chair to feign his druggy sleep.
That morning the soldier, his eyes fiery
like blood in a wound, his purpose brutal
as if facing a battle, hurried with his answer
as if to the Sphinx. The shoes! The shoes!
The soldier told. He brought forth
the silver leaf, the diamond the size of a plum.He had won. The dancing shoes would dance
no more. The princesses were torn from
their night life like a baby from its pacifier.
Because he was old he picked the eldest.
At the wedding the princesses averted their eyes
and sagged like old sweatshirts.
Now the runaways would run no more and never
again would their hair be tangled into diamonds,
never again their shoes worn down to a laugh,
never the bed falling down into purgatory
to let them climb in after
with their Lucifer kicking.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a classic poem by Anne Sexton. It tells the story of twelve princesses who are trapped in their castle at night and yet are seen to dance in a secret underground ballroom. The poem is a retelling of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale of the same name, but Sexton's version is darker and more complex than the original. In this literary analysis, we will explore Sexton's interpretation of the story and examine the themes of repression, freedom, and identity that run through the poem.
The Princesses and Their Repression
The twelve princesses in Sexton's poem are trapped in their castle by their father, the king. They are not allowed to leave the castle or see anyone outside of its walls. This isolation creates a sense of repression in the princesses, as they are not allowed to live their lives as they wish. Sexton's use of language highlights this sense of repression, as she describes the sisters as "trapped" and "imprisoned" in their castle.
But the princesses find a way to escape their repression through their secret dancing. Every night, they slip away to a hidden ballroom underground, where they dance until dawn. This dancing is a symbol of their desire for freedom and their need to express themselves. It is also a symbol of their connection to each other, as they dance in unison and support each other.
The Young Soldier and His Role
The young soldier who discovers the princesses' secret is a key figure in Sexton's poem. He represents the possibility of escape from repression and the possibility of a new life. His arrival in the story is almost magical, as he "rides into this poem / on a white horse." Sexton's use of language here suggests that the soldier is a hero, come to rescue the princesses from their imprisonment.
But the soldier is also a symbol of the cost of freedom. When the king discovers that his daughters have been dancing secretly, he offers the soldier a choice: marry one of the princesses and be rich and powerful, or be killed. This choice is a metaphor for the difficult choices that people must make when they try to escape repression. The soldier chooses to marry the youngest princess, but his choice comes with a price: he must keep the secret of the princesses' dancing and live a life of secrecy and deception.
Themes and Interpretation
The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a complex poem that explores a number of themes. One of the most important themes is the theme of repression and freedom. The princesses are repressed by their father and their isolation, but they find a way to escape through their secret dancing. The young soldier represents the possibility of freedom, but his choice comes with a cost. The poem suggests that freedom is difficult to achieve and often comes at a price.
Another key theme in Sexton's poem is the theme of identity. The princesses are all given names that begin with "J," which suggests that they are almost interchangeable. But the poem also highlights the differences between the sisters, as they each have their own personalities and desires. The young soldier, too, is struggling with his identity, as he must choose between his desire for freedom and his desire for security. The poem suggests that identity is complex and often involves difficult choices.
Finally, The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a poem about the power of storytelling. Sexton's retelling of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale is a powerful reinterpretation that adds depth and complexity to the original story. The poem shows how stories can be used to explore important themes and to connect people across time and space.
Conclusion
Anne Sexton's The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a powerful poem that explores important themes of repression, freedom, and identity. The princesses are trapped in their castle but find a way to escape through their secret dancing. The young soldier represents the possibility of freedom but also the cost of making difficult choices. The poem suggests that identity is complex and that freedom is difficult to achieve. Finally, the poem is a testament to the power of storytelling and the ways in which stories can connect people across time and space.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Twelve Dancing Princesses: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her confessional style of writing. Her works are often autobiographical and deal with themes of mental illness, family, and death. One of her most famous poems, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," is a retelling of the classic fairy tale of the same name. However, Sexton's version is far from the innocent story we are used to hearing. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and motifs present in Sexton's poem and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the work.
The poem begins with a description of the twelve princesses, who are "locked in their room at night" by their father, the king. The princesses are restless and unhappy, and they long to escape their confinement. One night, they discover a secret passage that leads them to a magical kingdom where they dance the night away with twelve handsome princes. This happens every night, and the princesses return to their room in the morning, exhausted and with worn-out shoes.
The first thing that stands out in Sexton's poem is the use of imagery. She paints a vivid picture of the princesses, describing them as "pale as ghosts" and "thin as reeds." This imagery creates a sense of fragility and vulnerability, which is further emphasized by the fact that they are locked in their room every night. The princesses are trapped, both physically and emotionally, and they are desperate for a way out.
The theme of escape is central to the poem. The princesses long to break free from their confinement and live a life of their own choosing. The secret passage they discover represents the possibility of escape, and the magical kingdom they find themselves in is a symbol of freedom. However, this freedom comes at a cost. The princesses must dance every night, and they are not allowed to speak of their adventures to anyone. This is a metaphor for the sacrifices we make in order to achieve our dreams. The princesses are willing to endure the exhaustion and secrecy because they have tasted freedom, and they know that they cannot go back to their old life.
Another important theme in the poem is the power of imagination. The princesses are able to escape their reality through their imagination. They create a world where they can dance and be free, even if it is only for a few hours every night. This is a reminder that our imagination can be a powerful tool for coping with difficult situations. It allows us to create a world where we are in control, even if we cannot control our external circumstances.
The use of repetition is also significant in the poem. The phrase "in the morning they came back" is repeated several times throughout the poem. This repetition creates a sense of routine and monotony, which is in contrast to the magical world the princesses escape to every night. It also emphasizes the fact that the princesses are trapped in their reality, and that their escape is only temporary.
The ending of the poem is particularly powerful. The king, who has been trying to discover the secret of his daughters' nightly escapades, finally succeeds in catching them. He is furious and demands to know where they have been. However, the princesses refuse to speak, and the king is left with no choice but to let them go. This is a symbol of the power of silence. The princesses are able to maintain their freedom by refusing to speak, and the king is powerless to stop them.
In conclusion, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores themes of escape, imagination, and the power of silence. Anne Sexton's use of vivid imagery, repetition, and metaphor creates a powerful and thought-provoking work that is both beautiful and haunting. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest of circumstances, there is always the possibility of escape and that our imagination can be a powerful tool for coping with difficult situations.
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